Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-11-26
Al THE S0RB0NNE.

"a
had scruwlcd off a note or two on the dis
course 80 which we had been listening, which
was engaged upon simplifying and copying
in a more iaeth9dical hand
To conduct a frivolous mind through a
course Of serious study is no light task, and
sighed a. | remarked: "Marillac gave you
a magnificent lecture today, Hippolyte. |
hope your head was not fun of Mabille"
"Ah, but il weslr he cried from his seat in
a window. where he was winding his watch,
'and no 'calcul personnel about it, either;
ca the contrary, a sacrifice Of knowledge in
behalf OF Julie. You do not perceive. At
tend, then. have no right to theacquire-
ments of science if the prettiest woman in
Paris must suffer for il, any more than
Comtea had to eat his own breakfast in adj
vance of his valet / swear to Julie that
shall continually cherish her image in my
thoughts. If, then, / open the door of my
mind to the discussion of Marillac, helas!
confusion to the memory of Julie and a
greedy gain to myself. Ours is not philos-
ophy of self, mr. friend we live for others,
ut which he laughed, with that awful mix
ture of irony and earuestness which some
times startled me- "You, too" he continued,
'must share in measure this phase OF our
religion, The pleasure of your friends must
constitute your own. Therefore, Hendrix,
drain this loo tie Of Chambertin,T which he
whisked from his pocket land do my little
part again to 5ard the highest good"
was divi led between impulses to thrash
and embrace him, 50 wicked, yet beseeching
was the glance that sought mine over the
edge of his glass.
''Ihate this talk of yours, Isaid, brusquely,
"and il you want to blind me TO your lack of
industry you must try some other bandage
than Comtean rags. You don't believe that
trash; you never did, you never will. You're
q lazy self indulgent dog. You're drinking
yourself into your grave, and you're going
lown fast, Hippolyte. Did | not begin by
writing quarter of your treatise last year
and of the next two thirds-and today, see,
scratch about an ascending series, and the
rest my work For Gods sake, rouse your
self orr for / remembered that he con-
fessed no God, ''for the sake of the beautiful
girl you profess to love, leave Mabille and
wine alonen
But he curled his fine red lip in scorn.
"She! To concern herself with my damna-
ton or salvationl And yet he drew his
forefinger on the edge of his glass with an
ambiguous smile, 'since l must so inevita-
bly, go to the bad, / have had fancy, at
times, that l should like to take her along
with me- It's tedious road, my friend, as
I've found already, and you know that place,
it is not recommended when one gets there.
The society, the climate, je ne sails quoi-one
forebodes being bored. But if she, now
"Silence!" shouted, springing up.
GAS you please" he said, carelessly, pick
ing up his students cap, and strolling to-
ward the door. He turned back with his
hand on the knob. "Thou sayest prayer
for thyself now and theng" he inquired.
."And thou couldst ask pardon for two when
thou art about it. Thou couldst say, Lord,
have mercy more especially upon Bonnie
theaus sins, also Do that for me, Hendrix,
as thou lowest me, and I'll thank thee for it,"
"Why don't you say your own prayers" |
demanded. "Comte used to say prayers and
to a sort of woman You surely would not
object to the object"
He threw me one of his nimitable smiles
with brows arched and head slightly inclined.
"Alas! | am one of those unfortunates To
whom they pin the card, Percentage I'M
known Wife, as thou art aware, ! have
never had, and as for daughtcrs-well, II
thou vert to peep into all the cradles Of Paris
thou mightest find my eyes under one of the
little caps, and again thou mightest not. I'm
not telling thee that. There is Julie, to be
sure, but what is q man to do who has no
emotion to pour out"'
At this the door closed, and | could hear
him whistling an ecstay from lie Diable
Boiteaux' as he passed INTO the court.
Twas engaged upon book Of morals, for
which | hoped to take prize at the next
sitting of the judges of tho academy, and on
the evening following my reproof OF Hip
polytc | took up my pen to resume an argu-
ment. In vain. There was but one theme
a.. -
papers aside, | leaned my head upon my
hand and gave myself up to it. At the same
moment Iiippoly5c rose from his chair by the
fire, and crossing the room, emptied de-
canter on the buffet Soon he would be going
out for his abainthe and petit souper / stole
a look at his face in profile; it was flushed,
wasted, pathetically sad, and although this
aspect was becoming daily more familiar to
me, at each fresh recognition of it the iron
entered my soul ancw. All, loved Hippolyte
with a mans love, which is rough and pro-
found AS he threw ON his coat and descended
the stairs | followed him.
"Hippolyte"
He turned back impatiently.
"Youre not offended by what / said to you
yesterday
"And what then?n he replied. go to bed,
like the innocent thou art, and dream that
forgave thee"
did not quite understand the habit of tu-
toyer-ing me into which he had fallen of late,
for Bonnctheau was hand in glove with no
man. Had he indeed more than a common
regard for ne' 1 blushed with pleasure, like
girl, at the thought.
About month previous had made my way
through regiments of lacqueys up the scarlet
stairs to the ballroom of the American minis
7 ho1 rnoniyyaI a card tbrOlIuh hpayaT1
knows what intercession, and might have
been found in the shadow Of the orchestra, at
the further end of the room.
Here erected a watch tower, from which
I observed various things. There were
waltzes innumerable, and petty sham con
quest of rank and beauty. Hippolyte him
self had reaped no small share Of laurels,